| Article
Postoperative pain in adults. Which is better for pain relief after outpatient surgery, NSAIDs or codeine? An article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, or CMAJ, detailed the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis, with patient pain scores as the primary outcome and...
| Article
The Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act was recently introduced into the House of Representatives, after working its way through the senate. Its goal? To make it easier to access non-opioid pain management treatments. The Act hopes to “address payment disincentives for...
| Article
Challenges. That’s what prescribers are facing when prescribing buprenorphine. They face barriers, hurdles, difficulties helping their patients overcome opioid use disorder. Even though things are changing—the federal government has removed some barriers, such as requiring special training for...
| Article
The Journal of Pain Research published an article in which researchers conducted phone interviews with chronic pain patients, clinicians, and clinic staff. In an effort to understand barriers to long-term opioid therapy, the researchers questioned 15 patients, 7 primary care clinicians, and 3 office...
| Article
The European Journal of Pain published a 2-part clinical practice guideline: part 1 covers the role of opioids in the management of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) and part 2, special situations. The position paper was commissioned by the European Pain Federation (EFIC). Eight scientific societies and...
| Article
Threats. Harassment. Attacks. There have been reports recently about practitioners saying “No” to patients requesting opioids, and either being threatened or actually harmed. In Minnesota, five people were shot, and one killed, by a man who had been denied painkillers. A report in the Baltimore Sun...
| Article
Opioids are powerful analgesics, but unfortunately that pain relief may come with side-effects that place a heavy burden on patients. Patients may experience diminished quality of life due to opioid-induced constipation, leading to depression/anxiety, embarrassment, increased cost of healthcare...
| Article
The American Medical Association just released a new OPIOID TASK FORCE 2020 PROGRESS REPORT in the hopes of reducing drug overdoses and deaths. Although prescription opioid overdose deaths have decreased, illicit drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine have risen. Last year, fentanyl...
| Article
According to the CDC, osteoarthritis (OA) affects over 32.5 million US adults. Patients with this chronic pain condition are often prescribed opioids, but with what efficacy? A recent study of patients with knee and/or hip OA examined the differences between strong and weak or intermediate opioids...
| Article
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice; establishment of a public docket; request for comments.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is announcing the establishment of a docket to solicit public comment on specific questions pertaining to the use of...